Leader connector

ABSTRACT

A connector or a link for joining a leader to a fly line is formed as a small cigar or like shaped member. A passageway opening at each end receives the end of the line and the end of the leader. A transverse hole at the center intersects the passageways from the ends to provide opposing side openings. The end of the line and the end of the leader are threaded through their passageways to project from the side openings. They are then knotted and the knots are pulled back into the side opening to complete the connection.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,834,061 Klein 1*Sept. 10, 1974 [54]LEADER CONNECTOR 2,577,466 12/1951 Jones 43/44.83 X l [76] Inventor:Gerald B. Klein, 13451 Stuart Ct., Broomfield, C010- 80020 3,717,9072/1973 Klein 287/80 x Notice: The portion of the term of this FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Patet subsequ?m to 1990 1,107,445 8/1955 France24/128 has been disclalmed.

[22] Filed; Aug, 3, 1972 Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee pp NOZ277,756 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank C. Lowe Related U.S. ApplicationData ABSTRACT [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 128,015, March 25, Aconnector or a ink for joining a leader to a fly line 1971, Pat. No.3,717,907. is formed as a small cigar or like shaped member. Apassageway opening at each end receives the end of [52] U.S. Cl.43/44.9, 24/ 128 the line and the end of the leader. A transverse holeat [51] Int. Cl F16g 11/00, F16g 1 1/02 the center intersects thepassageways from the ends to [58] Field of Search 43/43.1, 44.9, 44.83;provide opposing side openings. The end of the line 24/ 128 R, 129, 130,128; 287/80 and the end of the leader are threaded through theirpassageways to project from the side openings. They [56] ReferencesCited are then knotted and the knots are pulled back into UNITED STATESPATENTS the side opening to complete the connection. 1,771,125 7/1930Kahle 43/44.83 5 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures I 26 1 06 F i 7 7 2L b 2 T i75 75 72 1 PAIENTED 1 3,884.06 1

' sum 3 or 3 LEADER CONNECTOR This application is a continuation-in-partof my application entitled Leader Connector filed Mar. 25, 1971, Ser.No. 128,015, now US. Pat. No. 3,717,907 to disclose and claim subjectmatter set forth in that application and also other subject matter.

The present invention relates to connectors for fishing tackle, and moreparticularly to connectors which attach a leader to the line. As such,the invention will be hereinafter called a Leader Connector.

The improved leader connector, constructed according to the presentinvention, is especially useful for connecting a leader to a fly line,and the utility of the invention is best exemplified by describing thesame in connection with a fly line.

Fly fishing involves casting a line a substantial distance over a bodyof water wherein only the weight of the line is used to effect the cast.To be proficient in the art of fly casting, a fisherman must acquire ahigh degree of skill and must use good equipment. A skilled fly casterwill use a tapered line and tapered leader at the end of this line. Theleader may be as much as nine feed long, or longer, and taper from adiameter almost as large as the line diameter at its connection, to avery small tippet at the end of the leader. This taper of the line andleader is essential to a smooth cast with the line and leader unrollingfrom an outwardly moving loop to their full length when cast. Thus, itis desirable that there be no kinks in the line not in the leader,especially at the point where the leader is tied to the line.

One of the more difficult aspects to rigging a suitable gear for flyfishing involves tying the end of the leader to the end of the fishingline. The tie must be with a selected knot to avoid kinks and/orslip-separation of the leader from the line. Many leaders are providedwith end loops to facilitate this knot tying operation, but a leader maynot have the loop. Very often the fly fisherman will cut the end loopfrom the leader and tie the leader onto the line according to his ownsystem. The line may be expensive, carefully formed, tapered andbalanced and it is undesirable to tie a knob in the end of this line andto then cut the knot and a portion of the line each time the leader ischanged. However, while knots are not entirely satisfactory, metal clipsand swivel connectors, which are commonly used in other types of fishinggear, are usually too heavy and awkward for use with a fly line. Also,such connectors may prevent the leader from being pulled into the guiderings of the fishing rod as is often done when using a fly line with along leader.

The present invention was conceived and developed with the aboveconsiderations in view and comprises, in essence, a leader connectorformed as a very small member which may be shaped somewhat like a cigaror an elongated member or the like. This connector has longitudinalpassages within it, from each end, which extend to a side opening nearthe center of the connector. The end of a line and the end of a leaderare threaded into the passages from opposite ends of the connector andare then extended from side openings, A simple knot, such as an overhandor figure-eight knot, is tied in the end of the line and a knot, such asa figure-eight knot, is tied in the leader and then the line and leaderare pulled to pull the knots into the side terfere with casting andotherwise handling the fly line and which can easily pass through theguide rings of the fishing rod when it is desired to pull the leaderonto the fishing rod.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedleader connector for connecting a leader to a fly line which permits theconnections to be made very quickly, using a simple knot at the end ofthe leader and at the end of the line without the danger of the knot ofthe leader slipping to separate the leader from the line.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improvedleader connector which is a simple, low cost, neat appearing, ruggeditem capable of being manufactured by injection molding, or othermethods using various selected synthetic resin plastics.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the present inventioncomprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of partsand elements as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claimsand illustrated in preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing te improved connector connecting the endof a fly line with a leader.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connector per se, but on a greatly enlargedscale.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the connector.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of the connector astaken from the indicated line 44 at FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the connector with central portionsbroken away and in section, similar to FIG. 4, but with the end of aline and the end of a leader being threaded into the passageways in theconnector and having knots tied in these ends preliminary to securingthe line and leader to the connector.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the mannerin which the line and the leader are pulled to force the knots into thebody of the connector.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the mannerin which the tag ends of the line and leader may be cut away when theconnected line and leader are ready for use.

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing afirst alternate embodiment of the connector.

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 8, but showing asecond alternate embodiment wherein the end of the leader is permanentlyattached into one end of the connector.

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing athird alternate embodiment of the connector.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the connector shown at FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a fourthalternate embodiment of the connector.

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view as taken from the indicated linel3l3 at FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a fifthalternate embodiment of the connector.

FIG. 15 is a transverse sectional view as taken from the indicated linel5l5 at FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a sixth alternate embodiment Of 111%connector.

FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view as taken from the indicated line17-17 at FIG. 16, but showing the end of a line and the end of a leaderthreaded into the passageways and having knots tied in these endssimilar to FIG. 5.

FIG. 18 is a plan view similar to FIG. 16, but showing the manner inwhich the line and leader are pulled into the connector and showing inbroken lines the position from which the connector flexed when the knotsare pulled into the slot.

FIG. 19 is a plan view similar to FIG. 16, but showing variations ofform in the end of the slotted opening.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved connector Cjoins the end of a leader L to the end of a fly line F, as indicated atFIG. 1. The connector is formed as an elongated body 20 havinglongitudinal axial passageways 21 and 21' extending into it from theopposite ends 22. These passageways connect with a central transversehole 23 which forms opposing side openings at the center of theconnector. The diameter of the passageway 21 is selected to receive theend of the fly line F with a smooth, sliding fit. Likewise, the diameterof passageway 21' may be selected to receive the end of the leader Lwith a smooth sliding fit or it may be the same size as the passageway21. The diameter of the transverse hole 23 is greater than the diameterof the passageway 21 to snugly receive the knotted ends of the line andleader as will be described. This diameter may be from one-third totwo-thirds or more larger than the diameter of the passageway 21. As apractical matter, the diameters of the passageways 21 and 21 arepreferably the same so the connector is a symmetrical unit, to thussimplify its manufacture and use. This is possible because the diameterof the large end of a tapered leader will not be much less than thediameter of the end of the fly line, and if necessary the leader may bedoubly knotted to fit in the hole 23 as hereinafter described.

The body of the connector C is circular in section, tapering from theminimum diameter at each end 22, where the outside diameter of the bodyis only slightly greater than the passageway diameter 21, to a maximumdiameter at the center 24, which may be approximately twice or more thepassage diameter. This maximum diameter 24 will depend upon the diameterof the transverse hole 23, the strength of the material forming theconnector and the maximum pull of the line and leader which must beresisted by the connector. The connector is preferably formed of alightweight, strong, synthetic resin material such as nylon to withstandthe pull of the line and leader. The resin may also be elastic to permitit to stretch slightly so that a knot larger than the hole 23 can bepressed into the hole to fit very tightly therein. This will permit theconnector to have a maximum diameter 24 much smaller than wouldotherwise be possible. Such elasticity or stretchability may be obtainedby using resins which, though soft, have a high tensile strength. Nyloncompounds which have such a property to the degree needed are easilyavailable, such, for example, as nylon. It is immediately apparent thatthe critical portions of the connector are located at each side of thehole 23 and the maximum diameter 24 must be great enough to providesufficient material at this critical location. With a connectormanufactured of nylon, this maximum diameter will not ordinarily exceedl/8 inch and may be smaller for small lightweight fly lines. It is to benoted that nylon is one of the preferred materials for the manufactureof the connector not only because of its high strength, but also becauseit may be manufactured at a very low unit cost either by injectionmolding or by other methods. A further desirable property of nylonresides in the fact that the leaders ordinarily available are made ofnylon and as such, they may be more effectively held in a nylonconnector.

The manner in which the fly line F and the leader L are affixed to theconnector is exemplified at FIGS. 5 7. The first step is to thread theend of the fly line F into the passage 21 from the end 22 of theconnector and to divert the fly line through one side opening 23. Next,the end of the leader L is threaded through the passageway 21 from theother end 22 of the connector and the leader is diverted from the otherside opening 23 so that the ends of the line and leader extend from nearthe center of the connector. As heretofore stated, the diameter of thehole 23 is greater than the diameter of the passageway 21 and is suchthat it will just receive a simple knot 25, such as an overhand knot ora figureeight knot, tied at the end of the fly line. This knot 25 istied at the end of the fly line and a similar knot 26 is tied at the endof the leader. The knot 26, at the end of the leader, is shown as afigure-eight knot, which is preferable, since an overhand knot in thesmooth leader could slip. Should the diameter of the leader besubstantially less than the diameter of the passageway 21', the knot 26may be a larger knot to better fit in the hole 23.

The next step in joining the line and leader by the connector C isaccomplished by pulling the line and leader from the connector so thatthe knots 25 and 26 are forced into the hole 23, as illustrated at FIG.6. When both of these knots are in the opening, they will tightly fit inthe connector. Thus it may be necessary to press the knots in place, aswith a small punch, in addition to pulling against the line and leader.

Once the knots are tightly wedged in place in the hole 23, the tag endof the line and the tag end 28 of the leader may be cut away asillustrated at FIG. 7. This will complete the connection and the lineand leader will be held together in a simple, effective manner.

As a final, optional step, if it appears desirable to do so, a drop of asuitable adhesive may be placed in the opening to cement the surfaces ofthe line, leader and connector together. Such an adhesive may be anytype which will adhere to nylon and several types are well known to theart.

Once the lines are so secured, whether welded with an adhesive or not,they will hold in the connector solidly. An important advantage residesin the fact that this small, lightweight connector keeps the line andleader solidly interconnected in a straight, continuing alignment at thepoint of connection. Thus, when the line is cast, the resultant roll ofthe line will continue from the line to the leader without collapse orinterruption at the connection. Another important feature resides in thefact that this small connector will easily pass through the eyelets ofthe fishing rod with or without tension on the line whenever thisbecomes necessary.

Various modifications of the unit shown at FIGS. 1 7 are possible andseveral alternate embodiments of the invention are set forth at FIGS. 819. In the first alternate embodiment shown at FIG. 8, the body 30 ofthe connector C 1 has substantially the same form as heretoforedescribed. However, each passageway 31 and 31' extends into theconnector from each end 32 to the approximate midpoint of the connector.With this arrangement, the passageway 31' may be smaller in diameterthan the passageway 31 to better fit the leader if such appears to bedesirable. There, each passageway connects with an individual sideoutlet 33 with the side outlets opening at different sides or locationsof the body. Each side opening 33 is tapered from a larger diameter atthe exit to a smaller diameter at the base of the opening where itmerges into the passageway 31 or 31'. It follows that this taperedconstruction of the side opening will act as a wedging member to receiveand tightly hold the knotted end of the line, or leader, whenever theline or leader is pulled into the opening.

The line and leader are threaded into these respective passageways 31and 31' to extend from the side openings 33. The ends are knotted andpulled back into body, in the openings 33, the same as heretoforedescribed. Also, once the knots are pulled into the openings 33, the tagends may be cut away and an adhesive may be used to effectively cementthe end of the line and the end of the leader into the small connector.

In the second alternate embodiment shown at FIG. 9, the body 30 issimilar to the embodiment shown at FIG. 8, excepting that the end of theleader L is embedded in the connector C 2. Thus, in the connector C 2,only the passageway 31 and its side opening 33 are provided for the flyline. However, the end of the leader L is embedded or permanentlyfastened into the body of the connector and preferably, this leader endwill include an enlarged head 39 to more securely connect it. In thisalternate construction, the fly line will be secured to the connectorthe same as heretofore described.

In the third alternate embodiment shown at FIGS. and 11, the connector C3 includes a body 40 having passageways 41 and 41' which aresubstantially identical to the passageways heretofore described.However, the transverse hole 43 is oval or otherwise flattened, and maybe inclined with respect to the normal of the connector axis. Thismodification makes it easier to thread the fly line and the leder intotheir respective passageways and from the inclined side openings of hole43. The result is essentially the same as that heretofore described. Theknots 25 and 26 will be tied in the fly line and leader as aforedescribed and will be fitted into the hole 43 when the line and leaderare pulled taut.

In the fourth alternate embodiment, illustrated at FIGS. 12 and 13, theconnector C 4 has a comparatively wide gap at the center. Accordingly,the connector resembles a pair of opposing thimble-like body members 50and 50, each having a central passageway 51 and 51 extending fromopposite ends 52 of the unit. The members 50 and 50' are spacedby a gap53 and are held in position by a longitudinal arm 54 at one side of theunit. Each passageway, at each side of the gap 53, is flared inwardly asat 53a to provide a tapered surface for better securing and holding theknotted end of a fly line or leader. The manner in which this unit isused is essentially the same as that heretofore described. A fly lineand a leader are threaded through the passageways 51 and 51 to be turnedto the side of the unit at the gap 53. Knots are tied at the ends of theline and leader and then the line and leader are pulled apart to pullthe knots into the space 53 and against the tapered seats 53a to permitthe connector to function precisely in the manner heretofore described.

In the fifth alternate embodiment illustrated at FIGS. 14 and 15, theconnector C 5 is formed as a body 60. This body has passageways 61 and61' extending thereinto from opposite ends 62. An enlarged opening 63 isprovided at one side of the center of the body to connect with the twopassageways 61 and 61'. Each passageway, at each side of the opening 63is flared in wardly as at 63a to provide a tapered surface for bettersecuring and holding the knotted end of a fly line or leader. The unitis used the same as heretofore described. A fly line and a leader arethreaded through the passageways 61 and 61 to be extended from theopening 63. There, knots are tied in the fly line and leader and theyare then pulled apart to pull the knots into the opening 63 against thetapered seats 63a to permit the connector to function in the same manneras heretofore described.

As heretofore stated, this connector may be manufactured of a selectedsynthetic resin material, and preferably, a thermoplastic resin such asnylon. Almost all of the suitable thermoplastic resins have the propertyof memory, that is, should an article be mechanically deformed, bystretching, twisting or the like, to a shape differing from its originalshape, it will return towards its original shape when heated.

This property may be used to advantage in any of the above describedembodiments of the connector to shrink the connector upon a line andleader once the lines are threaded into the connector and knotted. Thememory function may be obtained by deforming either the stock materialfrom which a connector is manufactured or by deforming the connectoritself as a final step in its manufacture. In either event, thedeforming step will be directed towards enlarging the openings throughthe connector and especially, the side openings such as 23 of FIGS. 3 or33 of FIG. 8. After the connector material is so deformed, the lineand/or the leader are threaded into their respective passageways, theends are extended from the side openings and knotted or formed with anenlargement. The line and leader are then pulled to set the knots, orenlargements, into the side openings. The connector is then gentlyheated in any suitable manner to a temperature where the plastic memoryaction operates. The connector quickly and tightly grips the line andleader.

If the stock material from which the connector is to be manufactured isto be pre-stretched, the material may be stretched axially and at thesame time the passageway through it is enlarged as with a mandrel.

If the stretching is to be a final step in the manufacture of theconnector, mandrels may be used to increase the diameter of thepassageways in it. For example, a single mandrel could be used for acontinuous passageway 21 of a connector such as shown at FIG. 4.However, a pair of opposed mandrels would be used for the passageways 31and 31' of a connector such as shown at FIG. 8. In either case, a pairof opposing mandrels would enlarge the side openings 23 and 33 of thesetwo constructions.

The gripping action of a connector may be obtained by shrinking apre-stretched connector and be used to advantage to embed the end of aleader, or line, into the connector. For example, the leader end L maybe so embedded, as shown at FIG. 9. In preparing the leader for suchembedment, the end of the leader may be enlarged as at 39 to enhance thegrip of the connector about the leader. Another manner of reinforcingthe natural frictional grip of the connector about a leader embeddedwithin it involves the addition of particles of metal or the like at thepassageway wherein the leader end is inserted. In such an arrangement,an enlargement is not necessary, and the shrink of the connector througha plastic memory action will grip the leader, and at the same time theparticles of metal or the like will enhance this gripping by actuallydigging in into the surface of the portion of the leader or line beingembedded.

In the sixth alternate embodiment shown at FIGS. 16 to 18 the connectorC6 includes a body 70 having passageways 71 and 71' which aresubstantially identical to the passageways heretofore described. Thegeneral form of this unit is also similar, being elongated andcigar-shaped, with ends 72 made of a flexible material such as nylon.However, the transverse slotted hole 73 at the center of the unit iselongated along the longitudinal axis of the unit. This hole 73 has awidth which is only slightly greater than the diameter of passageways 71and 71 to provide sufficient material at each side of the hole withoutunduly increasing the maximum diameter 74 of the connector. The lengthof the hole 73 may be approximately one-half the length of theconnector, but this dimension can be considerably varied. Preferably,however, this length is greater than the combined diameters of theknotted ends and 26 of the line F and leader L as clearly shown at FIG.16. Each end 75 of the hole 73 is preferably notched, as illustrated, toprovide a wedge-like junction with its passageway 71 or 71', althoughthe bottom of each notch should be rounded slightly to preventsplitting. The surface of each longitudinal side wall of this hole 73may be flat and plane or the surface may be angled slightly to form aflattened dihedral, or this surface may be longitudinally archedslightly as illustrated. Other variations of structure, such as roundingthe sharp edges, may be applied to this unit withput changing its basicfunctional structure.

The connector C6 is used as heretofore described. The end of a fly lineF and the butt of the leader L are threaded through the respectivepassageways 71 and 71 and are knotted in a suitable manner asillustrated at FIG. 17. The fly line and the leader are then pulled topull the knots into the slotted hole 73, as illustrated at FIG. 18. Indoing so, the knots will tightly press against the sides of the slottedhole 73 and flex the connector. Such flexing is indicated at FIG. 18,the center portion of the connector being flexed from the dotted lineposition 76 at each side, of the hole 73 to the solid line position asshown. This flexing holds the knots tightly in place without the knots25 and 26 necessarily being jammed together.

FIG. 19 shows a further variation of the connector, and this modifiedembodiment C7 may be identical to that heretofore described inconnection with FIGS. 16, 17 and 18, excepting for the ends of theslotted hole 73', which are shown at one end as a circular arch 77 andat the other end as by a flat abutment as at 78.

The foregoing describes the invention in considerable detail. However,it is obvious that others skilled in the art can build and devisealternate and equivalent constructions which are nevertheless within thespirit and scope of this invention. Hence, it is desired that theprotection be limited not by the constructions illustrated anddescribed, but only by the proper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A connector in combination with knotted ends of two pliable lines,which lines do not differ greatly in diameter, such as a fly line and aleader, and comprising:

a tubular connecting member constructed of. a

stretchable material and having an axial passageway extending through itand a longitudinally elongated side opening intersecting the passagewayhaving a length greater than the combined diameters of the said knottedends of the two lines, said passageway being slightly larger incross-section than the diameter of one of said lines, the width of saidside opening being somewhat larger than the diameter of said lines andless than a knotted end thereof, whereby the side opening is dimensionedwith respect to said knotted ends such that, when assembled, the knottedends are forced into the side opening by stretching the connector,thereby effecting a tight fit of the knotted ends within said sideopening, said connecting member being proportioned such that the axialpassageway receives the lines with a small clearance, the clearancebeing such that a knot in a line cannot fit in the passageway, with oneline extending into the passageway from one end thereof, with the otherline extending into the passageway from the other end thereof, and withthe knotted ends of each line being fitted within the side opening,whereby to interconnect the lines.

2. A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting member ismade of a synthetic resin plastic.

3. A connector defined in claim 1, wherein:

said side opening is longitudinally slotted, with the length of the slotbeing in the approximate range of one-half the length of the member.

4. In the connector defined in claim 1, wherein:

an end of the slot is notched to provide a seat whereagainst a knot maybe pulled.

5. In the connector defined in claim 1, wherein:

the end of the slot is arched.

1. A connector in combination with knotted ends of two pliable lines,which lines do not differ greatly in diameter, such as a fly line and aleader, and comprising: a tubular connecting member constructed of astretchable material and having an axial passageway extending through itand a longitudinally elongated side opening intersecting the passagewayhaving a length greater than the combined diameters of the said knottedends of the two lines, said passageway being slightly larger incross-section than the diameter of one of said lines, the width of saidside opening being somewhat larger than the diameter of said lines andless than a knotted end thereof, whereby the side opening is dimensionedwith respect to said knotted ends such that, when assembled, the knottedends are forced into the side opening by stretching the connector,thereby effecting a tight fit of the knotted ends within said sideopening, said connecting member being proportioned such that the axialpassageway receives the lines with a small clearance, the clearancebeing such that a knot in a line cannot fit in the passageway, with oneline extending into the passageway from one end thereof, with the otherline extending into the passageway from the other end thereof, and withthe knotted ends of each line being fitted within the side opening,whereby to interconnect the lines.
 2. A connector as defined in claim 1,wherein said connecting member is made of a synthetic resin plastic. 3.A connector defined in claim 1, wherein: said side opening islongitudinally slotted, with the length of the slot being in theapproximate range of one-half the length of the member.
 4. In theconnector defined in claim 1, wherein: an end of the slot is notched toprovide a seat whereagainst a knot may be pulled.
 5. In the connectordefined in claim 1, wherein: the end of the slot is arched.